Work of Art that Runs on the Sun: Sol Dome by Loop.pH

Loop.pH, a London based art and design studio are, in their own words: “intervening at an urban scale to re-imagine life in the city”. They weren’t kidding when it comes to the Sol Dome – a solar light art installation in Midland, Michigan (originally part of a local art festival). The piece is made to change with it’s surroundings, the way a plant will adapt to its environment. Thousands of interconnected fiber optics make this a living, breathing work of art that runs on the sun. And the entire piece weighs only 40 kilograms (about 88 pounds) – an amazing feat when you look at the size and spectacle of it! It also makes the Sol Dome quite portable and the solar powered LEDs mean it will be at home anywhere there’s sun for fuel. Loop.pH is interested in moving toward what it calls “a living architecture that photosynthesises, moves and orientates in accordance to the sun”. While it’s all quite science-based (the geometry of the Sol Dome is based on the bonds between carbon atoms, for example) — it’s also an emotional piece of art and one that appears to be alive as it moves itself. The structure responds to its environment, and to the sun, as if it were a living, breathing plant. The future is here – under this responsive lighting dome. What bright things can you see for this technology?